Bicycle.



. UNLTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONIIARD BAURO'IH, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO LEONARD B. GAYLOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters` Patent No. 628,383, dated July 4, 1899.

Application filed February 24, 1895?..V Serial No. 671,469. (No model.)

T0 (1l/ZZ 1071/0111, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEONHARD BAUROTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bicycles, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to improvements in bicycles, and more particularly to means for adjusting the handle-bars so that they may be raised and lowered, as well as secured at tightened or released both of the clamping devices. Such constructions have not been wholly satisfactory, so far as I am aware, because of the fact that although one adjustinent only might be desired nevertheless the loosening of the single bolt would necessarily derange both of the clamps; also, because it was inevitable that the single bolt had to be screwed down with the necessary power to effect the strongest clamping action, and inasmuch as the power required to hold the handle-bar is much greater than that required for clamping the stem to the steering-tube it frequently happened that injury or distortion occurred to the latter by reason of undue strain applied thereto, and it sometimes resulted that the parts when'so distorted or injured would not let go, as it is called, when new adjustment was desired or that the machine was defaced. Under my invention these defects are entirely obviated.

My invention embodies asimple and effective means for adjusting and securely holding the handle-bar in its bearings so that it may be readily lowered ,or elevated, as desired, and, as above stated, either of the clamping devices may be released or tightened without in any manner affecting the other.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and claims when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the handle-bar stem and handle-bar and a partof the head or front tube and steering-fork stem therein. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at apoint and in the plane indicated by the dotted line x on Fig. l,

the handle-bar and worm-gear being shown inv tion, as may also the balance of the frame.

B indicates the handle-bar, which may have the drop-handles 0r straight handles or, in fact, be of any suitable shape and configuration. The handle-bar is provided at or about the middle of its length with a worm-gear a, and in forming this gear it is desirable that the bar should be thickened, so as to form a seat for the threadsand provide friction parts at opposite ends of the threads, so that'the bar may be firm ly clamped or grasped in the ring-like elastic clamp or clutch, as will pres-` ently appear. IVhile this is the preferred construction, yet I am aware that the wormgear may be provided in other ways.

C indicates the handlebar stem. This stem, which is adapted to enter the steeringforktube, is splitor slotted longitudinally from its lower end for a suficient distance and is provided internally at a sufficient distance above the slits with a shoulder b, which is designed to serve as a seat or stop for the expansion-rod in one direction, as willpres-` ently appear. Above this shoulder the stem is internally screw-threaded, as shown at c, and above the screw-threaded part the stein is separated by a horizontal or transverseslot d, so as to form an upper Unthreaded section e and a lower section f, which are connected IOO the handle-bar stem.

yieldingly by a loop g, which loop serves as a resilient or elastic ring-like clamp or clutch and seat for the handle-har. This loop is shown in the present illustration as formed integral with the handle-bar stem, and while for many reasons it is preferable to make it in this way, yet l do not wish to be understood as confining myself to forming the loop and stem integral, as they may be formed in separate parts and-suitably connected. In practice there is sufficient resiliency in the loop so that its normal tendency is to keep theupper section e of the stem raised from the lower section j', which would result in loosening the clamp or clutch upon the han; dle-bar when the adjusting-bolt, as will be presently described, has been unscrewed to permit the same. Y The handle-bar stem is provided at a point intersecting the slot d with an elliptical slot h, which opens into the clamp or clutch.

D indicates the handle-bar adjusting and clamping bolt. This bolt, as better shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, is threaded externally and bored centrally, as at 1I, and provided at its upper end with a wrench-seat j or other convenient means, by which itA may be turned into and out of the threaded portion c of This bolt is furthermore provided in one side with a cut-out portion 79,' which is of a curvilinear form and breaks or separates thef thread of said bolt. By reason of this cut-out portion the interior of the clamp or clutch, including a portion of the bolt, describes a complete circlev when said cut-out portion has been brought to the lateral elliptical slot It in the handle-bar stem. By reason of this it is obvious that by turning said bolt a quarter-revolution or more the threads thereon will be turned into the threads of the Worm a on the handle-bar, and thereby lock the handles at as vmany angles as there are threads inthe worm-gear as the threads of the worm-gear enter the elliptical slot h of the stem C, as better shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

When the handle-bars are fixed in any position and it is desirable to change the same, it is only necessary to unscrew the bolt D in such manner that the cut-out portion lo will be brought to coincide with the lateral slot h. Then the handle-bar will be free to rotate,

Aand when the handles have been brought to the desired position by reversing the movement of the bolt the clamp or clutch will be tightly closed upon the handle-bar, and the threads of said bolt, if turned into engagement with the worm d of the handle-bar, will additionally hold the bar firmly in the clamp orclutch.

E indicates a rod which I denominate the expansion-rod, as it is designed to expand the handle-bar stem in the steering-fork stem.

`rlhis rod is preferably provided at its upper end with an angular terminal Z to receive a wrench or other means by which it may be manipulated, and it is provided at its lower end with threads m to engage with a centrallyscrew-tapped' tapering n u t F. This nut,which is threaded to receive the threaded end of the expansion-rod and has its circumference tapered, as shown at n, is preferably provided with a lug p to prevent. said nuty from turning. The lug may enter one of the slots q of the handle-bar stem, or other means may be provided to prevent the turning of the nut therein.

The stem of the handle-bar is preferably tapered internally for a suliicient length at its lower end, so as to cooperate with the tapering nut F in forcing the split or slitted branches of said stern against, the. inner wal ls of the steering-fork tube.

When it is. desirable to raise or lower the handle-bar, it is only necessary to turn the expansion-rod so as-to let down the nut F, whereupon the split or slitted part of the handle-bar stem will automatically contractand consequently the handles carried thereby may be raisedor lowered' to the desired adjustment and secured in such positions by again screwing up the expansion-rod.

From the foregoing itl will be seen that the clamping devices are separatey and distinct from each` other and thattheone which holds the handle-bar is strong and powerful and suitable tofull its f,unctions,.and, obviously, if it is not desired thatthe thread of the bolt should engage with a worm upon the,handle bar this feature may be omitted, because then the handle-bar will be effectively held by the IOO mere clampingl action of the loop or ring like clutch. In some constructions',however, a more rigid locking of the handle-bar will be desired, in which case. both holding devicest'. e., the clamping action of the clutchand the interlocking of thethreads ofthe; bolt with the Worm on the handle-bar-may be employed. It will also be,v especially observed that such degree of force as Will servethe purpose, and that on1yn`eed beapplied toeach of theclamping devices, so, that distortion of the parts or any injury thereto will not arise with proper use of the same. v

Having described my invention, what I l. The combination of a handle-bar stem slitted longitudinally at its lower end and.

screw-tapped at its upper portion and divided into sections by a slot d and' having said sections connected by ar bar-receiving loop, and also having its interior in communicationwith `that of the bar-receiving loop, a handle-bar arranged in the loop of the stem and having ed portion, and an expansion-nut arranged IIO IZO

ISO

3. The combination of a handle-bar stem' slitted longitudinally at its lower end and screw-tapped at its upper portion and divided into sections by a slot d and having said sections eonneeted by a bar-receiving loop and also having a sloth connecting its interior aud that of the bar-receiving loop, a handle-bar arranged in the loop of the stem and having a worin-geara, an externally-threaded bolt fitted into the screw-tapped stem and having a Cut-out portion at one side and also having a longitudinal bore, a steering-fork tube receiving the handle-bar stem, an expansionrod extending through the bore of the externally-threaded bolt and having a threaded portion, and an expansion-nut arranged on said threaded port-ion of the rod and adapted to be drawn into the handle-bar stem, substantially as specified.

4c. A handle-bar stem screw-Tapped near its upper end and separated bya transverse slot and having a loop adapted to elamp a handlebar and connect said separated parts; in coinbination with a handle-bar having a woringear to enter a lateral slot in said stem, aud

a bolt externally threaded and fitted into the screw-tapped stem and having'a eut-out portion on one side to Correspond with the lateral slot in the stem, substantially as specied.

5. The combination of a handle-bar stein slitted longitudinally at its lower end and screw-tapped at its upper portion and divided into sections by a slot d and having said sections oonneeted by a handle-bar-reeeiving loop, a handle-bar arranged in said loop, an externally-threaded clamping-bolt engaging With the said upper and lower sections of the stem and having a longitudinal bore, a steering-fork tube receiving the handle-bar stein,V an expansion-rod extending through the bore of the externally-threaded bolt and havinga threaded portion, and an expansion-nut arranged on said threaded portion of the rod and adapted to be drawn into the handle-bar stein, substantially as specified.

6. The combination, in a bicycle,` of a split handle-bar clamp mounted on a stem, a tubular bolt which aotuates said clamp, Glam pingjawson the lower end of the stem, an expander for said jaws, a bolt which aotuates said expander and which extends upwardly through said tubular bolt, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witmesses.

LEONHARD AURoTH.

VVitneSSeS:

H. D. Woon, M. A. CoNDoN. 

